UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.
But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.
Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, deserved the win but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.
Buatsi Earns Win in Dull Match
The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.
Earlier forecast as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.
He opened tentatively, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better periods.
The spectators' acceptance decreased because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.
Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.
The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Local Rivalry Battle
In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental belt.
The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".
The action inside the ropes reflected the emotion. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.
But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the fighters exchanged hard punches.
The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over the full distance.
Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.
